Epilogue: A New Destiny Undertaken

Sulwyn was destroyed. Maeve summoned enough magic to push what power Sulwyn had out of her. After the battle all that was left of the sorceress queen was a brittle shell of an old woman, powerless and dying. Rhodari burst onto the scene at that time and disposed of what was left of Sulwyn and by the powers of the Magi he crowned Maeve as Queen Orla the first.

Days, weeks, months past and with each turning of the season Maeve wished that the spell that Sulwyn had placed on Tristan would break, but it did not. And so seven months after her coronation he was her faithful companion who would survey the land and bring back messages.

One message was brought to Maeve herself and it was one that she did not expect. During her daily courtly session a man from the islands came to her. It was Eric. She could see the love in his eyes and she half expected the love to rise up in full within her heart—but it did not.

“Dear Eric,” she stated in a queenly voice. “I welcome you to my court.”

“Maeve?” Eric asked his happiness faltering as he saw not the woman that he had fallen in love with but a regal queen sitting before him. “I beg your pardon Queen Orla, I came here to claim a heart that was promised to me not long ago.”

Maeve nodded. “I understand you Eric of the islands, however that heart has changed.”

“It belongs to another then?” he asked trying to keep his composure in front of the entire court.

“It belongs to no one,” she assured. “No one can claim this heart.”

And it was true. Maeve did not marry and when her consuls insisted that she marry for the good of the kingdom for it would be plunged into civil war should she not have an heir she decided to make a change.

“Let the people rule themselves,” she declared fourteen years after she had taken the throne. “Let them elect their King or Queen and let that person rule fairly and justly for a period of five years. After that term is up that King or Queen elect shall step down and shall not be able to run again…”

And so, her will was done. Braelynn became a constitutional monarchy with an elected head of state. As for Maeve, she left the royal palace and disappeared into the lands with a hawk as her only companion. The lost heir of Braelynn would forever be lost.

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The authoress smiled to herself, the story was finished. It was not a happy ending per say, but she knew that one equinox eve, twenty years after the spell had been cast, the bird known as Tristan regained his true form. He and Maeve lived happily ever after raising a beautiful daughter who was blessed with the eyes of her father. The Fallon line was ended, but all was well for the lost heir of Braelynn was forever happy.

—THE END—